THE despair felt by drivers coping with jams caused by road works in Twickenham Road is increasing, with local people describing it as a 'nightmare'.

Motorists are frustrated with the serious delays caused by queues at the works' temporary lights, which have already drawn complaints from ambu- lance drivers trying to access West Middlesex Hospital.

Phil Andrews, of Mill Platt, just off Twickenham Road, said: "It's complete anarchy out there and I am personally affected by it. Residents trying to enter and exit Mill Platt are taking their lives into their own hands - the drivers queuing in the traffic are so frustrated they are mov- ing as far forward as they can and blocking the exit to the estate.

"What concerns me is the next junction down is the entrance to the hospital and the same is going on there with patients trying to get in and out.

"It's not just rush hour either; even on Sundays it's the same."

Twickenham Road is just one location being excavated by Thames Water to replace a large main to prevent the flooding that struck London Road and Brentford High Street last year.

Another resident, Vanessa Smith, said: "This is a nightmare, not least for the small shops along the road opposite Silverhall Park. I fully appreciate that this work had to be done and that will mean disruption, but was there a meeting of the local police, hospital authorities and council with Thames Water prior to commencement?"

Mr Andrews said Hounslow Council had not done enough to control the way Thames Water carried out the work.

The former Isleworth coun- cillor said: "I understand that the work has to be done but I think there has been a lack of communication between the council and Thames Water - they are a law unto themselves.

"I don't think the utilities have taken any notice of the fact that the Six Nations is going on.

"They just seem to do it when they want to do it."

The road works, which started in early January, are likely to end in June.

A Thames Water spokesman said: "This is essential work to re-line a major water main that burst twice last year, on one occasion flooding around 50 people's houses.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure there are no repeats of those incidents."

A council spokesman said: "Given that the works are pro- grammed to take some six to seven months in total, it is unlikely a period could have been found when there weren't matches on at Twickenham."